How can I get my dog ready for winter?

Make sure your dog is dressed for success this winter.

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I just bought my dog his first winter coat and boots, but when I put them on him, he won't budge. How do I get him to love his new gear?

Although wearing the newest Burberry coat or Prada boots might be thrilling to you, your dog is, well, a dog. He's gotten on just fine with the coat and feet he arrived with. So if you're dressing him as a reflection of your personal style, you can't blame him if he'd rather reflect his own dog style. However, some dogs do need extra warmth and protection. Short-coated, very young, and frail, geriatric dogs are coat candidates. Some dogs' paws can't tolerate snow, ice, and ice-melting compounds used on sidewalks. And heavy-coated dogs collect ice balls between their pads and toes, which can be extremely uncomfortable.

You'll need to do a little training to teach your dog how much fun it can be to wear clothes. Start by dressing him in an oversize T-shirt a child-size shirt is big enough for small dogs. It will be easier and less upsetting to put his head and legs through than a tight sweater. Once your dog is comfortable, practice putting on the coat, allowing him to wear it around the house for short periods. Comfort is everything, so be sure to buy something that fits properly, that doesn't rub or chafe.

Put the boots on your dog at the end of the walk, not at the beginning, to capitalize on his desire to go home. You should give him fabulous rewards my dogs will do anything for a jar of chicken baby food! to motivate him. For those shaking your heads at the idea of doggie dress-up, there's a payoff (besides his comfort). All the handling and attention will make him more accepting of contact he's not so fond of, such as the vet holding his head to look into his ear or picking up his foot to check his pad.

Kathy Recommends...

A chilly dog needs a Chilly Dog coat (chillydogs.ca). With 20 sizes and an easy-to-put-on design, this coat makes it a snap to keep my dogs dry when they're out in the rain, sleet, or snow. Ruff Wear (ruffwear.com) makes Bark'n Boots Grip Trex, the only boots I've used that fit perfectly. After a few minutes of the classic "walk like a Lipizzaner" reaction, my dogs loved their new footwear.

Yesterday we adopted a hyper eight-month-old Lab mix puppy from the shelter. Can you give us some tips on integrating him into a big party we're giving? He needs to be well behaved because we're entertaining 100 people.

Let me get this straight you have a new adolescent puppy and are wondering how to train him to not only accept a new home and family, but also 100 people he's never met before? I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there's a slim-to-none chance that you'll be able to quick-train this dog into a fellow host. Not only that, but I think it's asking way too much of a puppy to have to deal with that kind of excitement and stress. It's understandable that you want to show him off, but the potential for disaster is great. He may jump on and knock over a guest; steal food, or be fed by a guest, and get an upset stomach; have an accident on the floor. Your puppy would be happier if he were upstairs in a bedroom, preferably under the watchful eye of a neighborhood teen you hired for the sole purpose of meeting his needs. After the party, dedicate yourself to his obedience training. He can make his debut at next year's event!